Celebrity Life

Taking inspirations from “chain link”, the new fine jewellery collection simple yet sophisticated.

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Trixie Khong, founder of By Invite Only, pays it forward by sharing her knowledge and experiences with budding business owners.

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Shanyan Fok Koder and Richard Bassett explain how a Hong Kong art entrepreneur joined forces with a former special-forces soldier to launch a health and mental wellbeing app, Mentor360.

"Mental health and mental fitness are universal concerns," says Shanyan Fok Koder. "And regardless of your demographic, social status, your job or your age, it’s something everyone has to deal with."

Shanyan Fok Koder & Richard Bassett on Mental Health App Mentor360

The Mentor360 app dropped on World Mental Health Day in October, the cumulation of the last 20 months of work and conversations (usually across continents over Zoom) between former military man Richard Bassett and worldly art advisor Koder. A month later, I’m sitting with both in a North London café talking over slices of pizza.

Their app, they hope, offers everyone a holistic 360 guide and framework to “finding your formula” for mental and physical wellbeing. It uses a hybrid approach, with a core layer of clinicians and professional Mentors and then celebrity Ambassadors (who’ve publicly shared meaningful life stories) critical for building noise and momentum.

"I’d been in the military for a long time. And there were a couple of incidents in my life that made me want to create something," Bassett, the CEO, explains. "Firstly, it was my father committing suicide. Then my son had a bit of misdirection. And several of my friends in the military had PTSD issues or adjustment disorders."

"The biggest issue is why people wouldn’t come forward and say they’ve got a problem?” he asks.

“Unlike some apps, we’re not trying to get people hooked. Come on to it when you need it”

— Richard Bassett

The answer often lay in culture, lack of education or concerns about privacy that prevent many from seeking help. With that came Bassett’s idea of creating an app that functions as a “non-judgmental toolkit” with content validated by experts – who include coaches, performance psychologists, mental health-specialising nurses and a clinical psychologist.

Basset’s link with Koder came when his best friend, ex-special forces colleague and TV star Jason Fox, sat next to a pregnant Koder at a charity fundraiser for Born (which researches to prevent premature birth) in late 2019. As the pair talked about their passions for mental health and children’s wellbeing, the connection to Bassett’s idea became quickly apparent.

"Foxy told me that I have to meet his friend, Richard, who’s building this app," Koder recalls. "I was always wanting to support things that are very meaningful and close to my heart … and now Jason is actually our key mentor. The partnership between Richard and I was almost like two parts of a jigsaw puzzle come together."

Although some might go to the app for help with stress, trauma or even resources to help with suicidal feelings, Mentor360 is designed specifically as a three-dimensional offering that will also encourage fitness, workouts, performance and meditation or more clinical matters.

"We wanted to maintain the human factor as a constant throughout. So it feels like somebody has given you some advice rather than some process-driven machine learning," Bassett adds.

The co-founders might come from two different worlds, but the unlikely partnership speaks to the ubiquity of the issues at hand. Bassett’s 25-year military career saw him being appointed the first ever Command Sergeant Major within the UK Special Forces military group. "It was at that stage where I was asked if I wanted to run defence,” he says. “At that point, I thought, I’ve kind of had my fill of the military now, it’s time to move on."

Koder meanwhile grew up in Hong Kong and the UK as the daughter of Li Ka-shing’s "right-hand man" Canning Fok, carving out a career in the arts and taking over her family’s impressive collection. As a female art entrepreneur and mother, her challenges would be different.

"When I had the misfortune of losing three babies to miscarriage and dealing with that emotional fallout, it led me to want to support this as a cause," Koder divulges. "If there’d been something like this app available to me, I don’t think I’d have suffered as much as I did emotionally. It’s a topic that’s still very taboo, even in this day and age … and while you eventually find your own community, at the very beginning, you do feel very alone."

Both were clearly driven towards the app through deeply personal experiences. Bassett saw first-hand how soldiers who’d done several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan suffered – his best friend, Fox, had left the forces with PTSD. Perhaps machismo or fear of institutional repercussions meant that the issue was often ignored or hidden in the military – but he hopes that Mentor360’s holistic approach can gently lead people to explore mental fitness alongside physical performance too.

The male-female perspectives of the pair offer a well-rounded, powerful tool. And while the wellness space is already crowded, Mentor360 stands out by being so broad, human-focused and non-prescriptive.

There’s been exciting traction too. Since its launch, the app has been downloaded in more than 176 countries, with the UK, the US and Australia leading. British schools have reached out and it’s one governance board away from being trialled within the National Health Service (NHS), which means added clinical risk management in the app. That has been an important validation, says Bassett, "especially when an institution like that has picked it out from a huge spectrum of apps on the market today."

Covid-19 and lockdowns have helped throw light on mental health, taking the conversation more mainstream. The timeliness has hit home; as Bassett says, “there’s a lot of people now struggling with the transition between Covid and normality”.

Koder tells us that the plan is to serve individuals but also institutions such as the NHS and the military. There’s also the option of “white labelling” it, so the app can be packaged and tailored to certain industries or corporate employees. In the future, might they look more global, with different languages and translations? Absolutely, the pair say, but they’re taking it “slow and steady”. There’s been interest from American corporations and Koder says that she’s keen to push into Asia very soon. Although going truly global might mean translating for languages, cultures and tone, as well as working with diverse psychologists, it remains a future ambition.

Mentor360 may be extra helpful in cultures where mental health is still relatively taboo. As Koder says, "I think, coming from our Asian culture, it speaks volumes to me – so much of our culture is about still performance or hiding a lot of what you’re feeling."

"Unlike some apps,” Bassett adds, "what we’re not trying to do is create a hook or get people hooked. Come on to it when you need it, and if you don’t need it for a while because you’re good, you can just put it away … We’re starting to see those patterns in the trend analysis."

To get a little personal, I ask what works for them individually to keep a healthy mind and body. Bassett’s formula revolves around daily exercise, time with the family, dogs and good sleep – even the occasional glass of wine on the sofa in front of a crackling fireplace. Koder’s happiness hacks centre around motherhood, being content and at peace in her skin, and looking at life with a certain romanticism: "I always love to see the poetry in my day,” she says, "and I think it’s important to just pause throughout the day, check-in and acknowledge that I’ve achieved these things and I should be proud of myself, rather than just rushing on to the next thing."

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The lotus is the crowning flower for this Diamond Breeze collection.

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Chopard's already playful collections receive another boost of cheery joy this year with Arty the Bear, who ambles through snow-covered mountains and frozen forests to discover jewellery and watches that are perfect gifts for you to show your devotion to your most loved ones.

The polar bear is an iconic animal motif of Chopard’s Animal World and Happy Diamond series. Arty is especially doted on by Caroline Scheufele, the artistic director and co-president of Chopard, since it looks just as cute as the teddy bears everyone once owned as a child. Last Christmas, Arty was joined by his band of friends on his winter adventures: Luna the doe, Tobby the rabbit, Jasper the badger, Gabby the owl, and Elliot the squirrel gathered together in the spirit of joy and celebration. This time, love is in the air. The story of Arty the Bear is enriched by his new polar bear friend, Amy, a blossoming romance that brings deeper meaning to the whimsical tale as they prance about and discover pieces from the Happy Hearts, Happy Sport, and high jewellery collections.

Arty and his friends discover the Happy Hearts collection – necklaces, rings and bangles that feature Chopard's iconic dancing diamonds encased within the heart designs. Discovering the Happy Sport Diamond watches, Arty and his friends break into an impromptu dance, driven by the twirling diamonds and the rhythmic tick-tock of the precision timepiece. The 33 mm diameter watch design, with mesmerising diamonds that appear to float on the dial, makes the Happy Sport Diamond watch a perfect choice for a female's wrist.

The adventure doesn't stop there. High jewellery also features prominently in the story. The Precious Lace necklace in 18K white and yellow gold comes with a 33.26-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond set with more diamonds totalling 61.26 carats.

There are collections for him too. The Alpine Eagle XL Chrono, L.U.C. Time Traveller One Black and L.U.C. GMT One Black are all top choices for men. Modern and classic designs and fitted with highly precise movements, these make for timeless gifts for the men in your life.

You can explore Arty the Bear's adventures and discover more of Chopard's watch and jewellery collections here.

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If you've been following the diamond trade at all, you'd know that the last of the Argyle Pink Diamonds was just auctioned off at record-breaking prices in November. The last tender, comprising of 70 rare pink and red diamonds, represented the final diamonds mined in Western Australia before the mine closed for good in November 2020.

Kunming Diamonds, a Hong Kong fancy-colour specialist, was one of the few authorised partners selected by Rio Tinto, the mine's owner, to be present at the offer of the last tender. Its executive director, Harsh Maheshwari, called pink diamonds extremely rare, and an Argyle Pink Diamond "rarer than rare."

"In fact, [it's] so rare that it shouldn't exist – less than 0.1 percent of diamonds mined worldwide are pink," says Maheshwari. "These diamonds are described as rare partly due to the science behind their formation. The likelihood of even one pink diamond forming is thought to be like winning the lottery twice on the same day, but at the Argyle Mine it has happened over and over again."

Locally-based jewellery designer and expert gemologist Yves Chan agrees, saying, "The existence of Argyle Pink Diamonds in itself is a miracle. They come from a volcanic pipe which is already a highly unusual natural formation. To make them even more incredible, by sheer luck they're almost frozen in time to remain pink before they transform into brown diamonds. There is a unique window of time and space that enables Argyle Pink Diamonds to capture and retain their iconic colour, which is exactly the reason why they don't exist in any significant quantities elsewhere in the world. Each of these diamonds is like a miniature gift of love from nature, so tiny yet with such a globally prized value due to its fantastical quality."

Out of a thousand other jewellers, Chan was handpicked by Argyle to present their pink diamonds in Hong Kong. DAWN Jewellery, designed by Chan, is one of the last Select Ateliers in the world to showcase jewellery pieces that highlight these rare diamonds.

"We're truly honoured to be appointed by Rio Tinto as the Argyle Pink Diamond Select Atelier in Hong Kong," says Chan. "DAWN is a home-grown boutique company from Hong Kong, so for Rio Tinto to handpick us among all the major jewellers around the world is definitely an important milestone for our team."

At its peak, Argyle was responsible for producing 90 percent of pink diamonds sold internationally. Medium quality pink diamonds can sell for 20 times the price of white ones and higher quality Argyle Pink Diamonds, without question, go for a lot more.

Very few diamonds are identified by their origins in the same way Argyle Pink Diamonds are. "The mine itself has legendary status and many refer to it as a "miracle of nature" given its optimal conditions and unparalleled consistency," says Maheshwari. "Although there are other pink diamonds found in less significant quantities around the world, Argyle Pink Diamonds are said to have the finest colour and saturation as they possess densely packed graining planes that emanate a pink colour."

Even for someone as experienced as Maheshwari, the last tender for the Pink Argyle Diamonds represents a watershed moment in the industry. Nineteen bidders from nine countries acquired the lots to record-breaking prices, with several stones going to Australian jeweller Callejia, who bought the Argyle Eclipse, a radiant-shaped 3.47-carat, fancy-intense-pink diamond, and the Argyle Bohème, a radiant-shaped, 1.01-carat, fancy-red diamond. Kunming Diamonds also won nine pink lots.

"The outlook [for pink diamonds] remains extremely positive," says Maheshwari. "As these pink diamonds are the last from a major mine, it's complex to define and quantify a percentage, owing to the emotional premium the market is willing to pay.

"Having said that, I would expect Pink diamonds of high saturation to increase by a percentage of mid-to-high double digits in the coming years as the market digests the diminished supply within the trade."

Knowing how rare and irreplaceable Argyle Pink Diamonds are was Chan's starting point as he designed a collection around the them for DAWN Jewellery, working with in-house goldsmith Sunsmith atelier. "Working with one of the rarest and most valuable materials ever unearthed is a privilege, and we have deeply considered how to extend the legacy of this beauty for our clients," he says.

Argyle Pink Diamonds traditionally are owned by few and desired by many, but Chan wanted to change the game with his collection, choosing to create pieces starting with a 5-digit price point (HKD) so more people can appreciate the diamonds, along with DAWN designs.

"At DAWN, we always weave in cultural elements into our creations," says Chan. "We wanted to introduce elements drawn from Chinese culture in our collection. For example, our highlight Crane collection is based on the renowned ancient Chinese painting, Auspicious Cranes, created by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty."

Inspired by the painting, DAWN has created a set of 20 auspicious cranes in icy jadeite and 18K gold, with each one topped with an Argyle Pink Diamond on its crown. "Emperor Huizong came from an exceptional background, painting this rare painting under unusual circumstances, which we believe is a fitting narrative to complement the rare nature of the jewels and offer an interesting angle to tell the story," says Chan.

Collectors can even engrave a personal message on the plate behind each piece, adding to the emotional value of each piece.

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Tiger motifs and patterns take the spotlight in this timely menswear collection.

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Infatuated with the Roaring Twenties, Cindy Yeung explores the jewellery and fashion of 1920s women in her latest Nùo by Cindy Yeung Sautoir collection.

Cindy Yeung has long had an interest in jewellery design and has been creating her own pieces for more than 10 years. You’d hardly expect the chairperson of Emperor Jewellery to be as hands-on as she is, while overseeing the 70-year-old retailer’s many brands, ranging from the most prestigious timepieces to contemporary jewellery and the brand’s own creations.

But driven by her own pursuit for exemplary craftsmanship and creativity, Yeung was inspired to create her own brand of jewellery. Nuò by Cindy Yeung, meaning promise in Chinese and representing the Chinese character in her name, demonstrates both her own commitment to quality and the skills and expertise of Emperor Jewellery’s team of craftsmen.

The 'Nuò by Cindy Yeung' Sautoir Collection by Emperor Jewellery

"All the inspirations for Nuo’s collections come from me,” says Yeung. “Then, my team will help me sketch them out and create the final pieces.” From sketching to sourcing the gemstones and crafting the pieces, the entire process to put together a collection takes up to a year, while some of the more challenging pieces could take two to three months of back and forth before they’re complete.

The latest Nuò by Cindy Yeung collection is Sautoir, inspired by the epoch-making accessory of the 1920s: the long sautoir necklace. Appearing as long twists of pearls or draped with tassels and large pendants at the end, sautoirs were the accessory of choice for contemporary, confident, and free-spirited women of that era.

It was a period that captivated Yeung. “I’ve always loved reading old classics and found the fashion in the 1920s so sleek and stylish,” she says. “I loved how women dressed then, and how they did their hair. It also had a similarity to Chinese fashion at that time. The style was also very slim-fitting – and Chinese ladies also wore sautoir necklaces. I loved both cultures and that’s how I started imagining sautoirs as a theme for this year’s collection.”

 “Because I’m Chinese it was important for me to bring out the beauty of jadeite in an oriental brand, but in a Western style” 

Yeung’s design philosophy often revolves around the East-meets-West concept, and her collections often combine Western jewellery techniques with Asian motifs. Yeung’s favourite gemstone to incorporate into her jewellery is jadeite. “Fei Cui isn’t very often used in international brands, but because I’m Chinese it was important for me to bring out the beauty of jadeite in an oriental brand, but in a Western-style,” she says. “Fei Cui is my favourite stone to use. I love the green colour and it represents femininity in Chinese culture.”

Fei Cui appears throughout the Sautoir collection. There’s a beautiful jadeite and mother-of-pearl necklace that was created with a double-sided stone-setting technique. The set also featured a detachable design that allowed the necklace to be divided into three necklaces or bracelets to allow the wearer to create her own style. Another Sautoir necklace, inspired by Venus the goddess of love, features harmonic hues of natural purple Fei Cui, black chalcedony, pearl, ruby and diamond.

Transformable jewellery also features predominantly in the collection. “I’m a career woman,” explains Yeung, “and there are often parties and functions I need to attend that I don’t have the time to change my outfits for. I love playing with transformable jewellery and making them wearable during both day and night.”

Yeung points out a particular jewellery piece set with rubies and sapphires, which comes with a detachable clip. “This was the most creatively challenging piece to make,” she says. “The necklace comes with a detachable clip that turns into a pair of earrings. If you’re going out at night, you can wear the necklace, and turn the clasp into earrings for a grander look.”

East meets West, old and new, tradition versus modern – these are all concepts that she consistently explores through Nùo by Cindy Yeung. And the Sautoir collection embodies this sentiment exactly. It’s a celebration of tradition, of an era 100 years past, but it’s also a celebration of the versatility and strength, and the incredible fashion sense found in today’s modern-day women.

View the entire Nuò by Cindy Yeung collection here.

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